Chapter 110: Finally, my mana has started to climb!!!
— Biochip.
— Compare it with the original formula.
[Beep]
[Comparing molecular structure.]
A few seconds later...
[Final result: Efficiency equivalent to 25.03% of the original formula.]
I nodded slowly.
It was lower than the thirty percent I had predicted.
But...
It was the first batch.
I had already expected some minor losses.
Besides, nearly an entire crate of herbs had been consumed.
Perhaps I would only be able to produce forty bottles.
At most.
Even so...
It was worth it.
My gaze returned to the red liquid.
The time had come.
I walked to the center of the laboratory.
I sat down cross-legged.
Without hesitation...
I drank it all.
The taste was awful.
Bitter.
Metallic.
Thick.
It tasted like human blood mixed with plant sap.
My face involuntarily tightened.
It definitely hadn’t been made with flavor in mind.
I closed my eyes.
I immediately began my meditation technique.
The next instant...
Everything disappeared.
I was no longer in the laboratory.
It was as though I had plunged into an endless ocean of blood.
Blood everywhere.
The pressure continued to rise.
My brain felt as though it were beginning to burn.
Outside...
My body remained motionless.
But sweat continuously ran down my forehead.
My breathing grew heavy.
The veins in my neck bulged.
Two hours passed.
When I finally opened my eyes...
My entire body ached.
My head felt as though it had been struck dozens of times by a massive hammer.
— Report.
The Biochip responded immediately.
[Monitoring changes.]
[Accelerated mana increase detected.]
[My vision began filling with notifications.]
[Mana +0.01]
[Mana +0.01]
[Mana +0.01]
[Mana +0.01]
[Mana +0.01]
[Mana +0.01]
The messages continued appearing.
Then...
The intensity increased.
[Meditative state deepened.]
[Perfect synchronization with the potion.]
[Efficiency optimized.]
My mana began increasing much more rapidly.
[Mana +0.10]
Shortly afterward...
I felt a warm wave sweep through my entire body.
[Previous limit exceeded.]
[Mana +0.15]
[Mana +0.15]
[Mana +0.15]
The expansion finally stabilized.
A few seconds later...
My status appeared before my eyes.
[HOST STATUS]
Name: George Gil
Sex: Male
Age: 17
Race: Human
Class: Acolyte II
[PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES]
Strength: 3.0
Agility: 3.0
Vitality: 3.0
[MAGICAL ATTRIBUTES]
[Mana: 5.0]
At last, I have five mana points.
If the original ingredients were used, wouldn’t that mean I could increase my spiritual power by nearly two mana points with each dose?
It truly deserves to be called an ancient Mana Potion.
Even Official Mages would consider that an outstanding result.
My mind immediately began calculating new possibilities.
If a single potion could grant me such a tremendous improvement...
How long would it take to reach the next level?
— Biochip.
— Assuming I have enough potions, how long will it take me to reach ten mana points?
[Applying the effects of the Plant Blood Mana Potion...]
[Creating simulation model...]
[Analyzing physiological resistance...]
[Calculating medicinal tolerance...]
[Analysis complete.]
[According to the Host’s rate of adaptation to the potion’s medicinal properties, it is estimated that the Host will reach ten mana points in approximately five years.]
"..."
I blinked twice.
— What?
I frowned.
— What do you mean?
[Beep!]
[The Host’s body will develop resistance to the potion within a short period.]
[The Plant Blood Mana Potion will be capable of increasing the Host’s mana to approximately eight points.]
[Beyond that limit, its effectiveness will decrease drastically due to high medicinal tolerance.]
"..."
My excitement vanished as if cold water had been poured over my head.
So that was the price.
No miraculous substance could completely defy the laws of the body.
The requirements for an acolyte to advance to the third level were extremely simple on paper.
Master three complete spell models.
Possess ten mana points.
The first requirement no longer meant anything to me.
Thanks to the Biochip, I had mastered far more than just three magical models.
My true obstacle had always been the second.
I shook my head.
Well... even so, I had saved myself about five years of meditation.
If I had relied solely on the natural absorption of magical energy, I would probably have needed an entire decade.
This ancient potion had already cut that time in half.
In the future, I would find another solution.
My focus had to remain on the present.
The only answer was still...
Red Leaves.
My eyes shone intensely.
I need enormous quantities of them.
If Distant Wind City could no longer supply them... then I would establish a trade network to acquire them from other cities.
I slowly clenched my fists.
Money existed precisely to solve this kind of problem.
If one city didn’t have enough resources...
Then I would buy from ten.
If ten weren’t enough...
Then I would buy from a hundred.
.
.
.
.
.
As soon as I left the laboratory, I found Jane waiting outside.
— Young Master.
She bowed respectfully.
She still limped slightly.
Whenever she walked a little faster, her body leaned subtly to one side.
I smiled at her.
Jane immediately lowered her head.
Her ears turned completely red.
I ignored it.
— Pass on my orders.
My voice became serious.
— Starting today, all commercial activities will be suspended.
She looked up in surprise.
— All financial resources will be devoted exclusively to purchasing Red Leaves.
I continued.
— Kant will leave immediately for the neighboring cities.
— I want him to buy absolutely everything he finds.
— Even if he has to pay above the market price.
My gaze was probably intimidating.
Even I could feel its intensity.
Over the past year, no research had brought me this close to success.
— Yes, Young Master.
She answered immediately before almost running off despite her difficulty walking. I think I injured her when I used her to satisfy my desires.
.
.
.
.
.
.
One year passed.
The harsh winter finally gave way to spring.
From the balcony of my residence, I watched the first patches of green appearing on the trees in the distance.
The fields were slowly coming back to life.
Even with the lingering cold, some farmers were already working the land.
I rested both hands on the railing.
One year...
I smiled faintly.
I’m already seventeen years old.
Time really passed quickly.
Throughout that entire year, I had purchased practically every Red Leaf available in Distant Wind City.
The experiments had continued almost every day, and I had managed to reach approximately 6.8 mana points.
I smiled in satisfaction.
I picked up a few sweet fruits from the nearby table.
As I absentmindedly chewed, I began organizing my thoughts.
Compared to the other acolytes, my progress is practically unbelievable.
Most of them spent entire years trying to increase a single mana point.
Only the heirs of the great families could afford to consume potions continuously.
How fortunate I was to leave the Tower.
If I were still there...
I would never have had the freedom to grow stronger so quickly.
As strange as it sounded...
The war had actually benefited me.
However, my expression soon became serious again.
Even if the war ended today... I wouldn’t return.
I intended to leave with Ruby and carry out our mission together.
Perhaps it would be during that next mission that I would find a way to break through the limit imposed by the Plant Blood Potion’s tolerance.
Knock.
Knock.
The door slowly opened.
Jane entered carrying a tray.
— Master.
She gave a respectful bow.
— An emissary from the Lord of the City brought an invitation.
I raised an eyebrow.
An invitation?
I accepted the envelope.
I opened the letter.
My eyes quickly scanned its contents.
A gathering...
Besides my own name...
Another one caught my attention.
Lurdot.
Along with several other acolytes.
I slowly folded the invitation.
Could something have happened that required the assistance of the acolytes?
It was a very plausible possibility.
I slipped the letter inside my coat.
— Jane.
— Prepare a carriage.
— And my formal clothes as well.
— Yes, Master.
She left immediately.
Regardless of the reason for that invitation...
Viscount Probel remained the absolute lord of Distant Wind City.
Creating unnecessary friction would simply be foolish.
Besides...
With the temporary shortage of Red Leaves, I didn’t have any urgent research to conduct that day.
It’s also been quite some time since I last saw Lurdot.
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.
.
In the center of Distant Wind City stood the enormous castle built by the lord of the city.
Even from a distance, its grandeur conveyed authority.
Soldiers continuously patrolled the walls.
Archers stood atop the towers.
Everything reflected strict military discipline.
The carriage came to a stop before the main entrance.
I stepped down calmly.
My noble attire fit me perfectly.
As I walked toward the gates...
Another carriage arrived.
It was made of reddish wood.
An old man with a completely white beard slowly stepped down, carrying a massive book against his chest.
The moment our eyes met...
His wrinkled face broke into a broad smile.
— It’s been a long time, my friend!
He opened his arms.
I smiled instinctively.
— I’m happy to see you again as well, Lurdot.
I embraced him respectfully.
Lurdot had countless flaws.
Even so...
It was impossible to deny his vast experience.
The many conversations I had shared with him had broadened my understanding of several aspects of my studies.
Besides...
When I first arrived in Distant Wind City...
He was the one who helped me the most.
We continued talking as we walked.
When we reached the main gate, we presented our invitations to the guards.
After a brief inspection, we were both permitted to enter the castle.
....
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